The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow Review: digging deeper

Do you ever play a game and think “wow, this story cannot be contained within this singular medium?” Like as a game it’s still great, but its story is just itching for more — to dive into a book, movie, or TV series? I’m sure several come to mind — especially story-driven games — but I haven’t felt this strongly about a game in that way since The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow, a pixel art point-and-click narrative that took me by surprise in more ways than one.

Developed by Cloak and Dagger Games and published by Wadjet Eye Games, The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow follows Thomasina Bateman, a Victorian-era antiquarian, as she attempts to document all manners of barrows across the UK for her upcoming book on the matter. It was this very reason that lead her to Bewley, a sleepy village in the middle of a vast expanse of moorland stretching out into eternal nothingness. Unfortunately for Bateman, this tiny town harbors not-so-small secrets — secrets that, once uncovered, will change her life forever.

The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow is as old-school as the genre can get on a multitude of levels, but it possesses a certain je ne sais quoi that elevates it to an entirely new level. For one, its voice-acting is some of the best in its class — not a necessary aspect of a good game, mind you, but it was remarkably well done and really brought the characters and their town to life. The pixel art itself is also just incredible — there were plenty of times I would pull my husband aside and demand he look at the way the grass swayed in the breeze or the way the fog rolled in across the moors. The level of pixelated detail here is stunning, making for an absolute feast for the retro-lovers’ eyes.

At first, I will admit that I found the pacing to be a little slow, and I unfortunately fell asleep once or twice while playing in bed on my Steam Deck (or perhaps fortunately for the insomniacs). But as I played longer, I realized the pacing was what made The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow so interesting. Bateman spends much of her time in this game trying to convince the townsfolk that Hob’s Barrow not only exists, but is a prime candidate for excavation. The cagey villagers are reluctant to speak with her; in her attempts to win their trust (and blessing to excavate), she soon learns why…

During this time, Bateman is also having weird dreams and flashbacks that take her to a different reality. Sometimes she’s at the door of the barrow, speaking to a cryptic creature that doesn’t seem to be friend or foe, while other times she’s taken back to her childhood, her memories revolving around her time spent with her father. An antiquarian himself, Bateman’s father was rendered mute and immobile after a dig gone wrong. As she spends more time in Bewley, Bateman begins to suspect that the answer to her father’s misfortune has something to do with Hob’s Barrow itself, fueling her desire to excavate even further.

When I say The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow demands further media, it’s because the characters are so well-developed and portrayed, the way the game is set up is so cinematic, and its backdrop screams for more depth. Each character has strengths, quirks, and flaws that make them realistic, such as Bateman’s capable recklessness or the town drunk’s good-natured but unreliable accounts. The flashbacks and dreams make for natural breakpoints to make for an unsettling transition into the next segment. And as someone not from the UK, this game taught me what a barrow even was, so I could see a full episode being devoted to a cleverly spun narrative about Bateman writing about the basics for her book (in an effort to teach folks like me). Simply put, The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow is incredible and I need more.

The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow was a pleasant surprise for me — a fantastic game in its own right, but one whose story doesn’t deserve to end here. I absolutely need a book, film, or TV adaptation of this story, and the great thing is you wouldn’t have to change much for it to be ready for consumption in other media. Although I did find myself struggling to make sense of the ending, I suspect a second playthrough is all I’d need to clear up any questions I still have. The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow is truly a pixel art masterpiece — one that definitely deserves a deep dig.

Final Verdict: 4/5

Available on: PC (Reviewed); Publisher: Cloak and Dagger Games; Developer: Wadjet Eye Games; Players: 1; Released: September 28, 2022; MSRP: $14.99

Full disclosure: This review is based on a copy of The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow provided by the publisher.